When thinking of a place to relocate to, many people overlook the Midwest – and wrongly so.
This area – often dubbed “flyover country” – is actually quite a diverse place with an affordable cost of living and people who are on the friendlier side.
There are plenty of small towns within a good distance of big cities, so you can live a quiet life while having access to all the amenities of a bustling urban area.
Whether you’re looking at Milwaukee houses for sale or an apartment to settle in in Chicago, living in America’s Heartland can be a wise decision.
One thing to remember is that the Midwest’s weather can also be varied, and something you want to be prepared for before you move in.
The Midwest encompasses a dozen states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. This is a wide swath of land, so expect different climates.
Temperature Range
In the northern parts of the Midwest, like North Dakota and Minnesota, temperatures can fall below zero. On average, daily winter temperature highs fall among 30 and 40 gradations Fahrenheit.
Temps in the spring and fall are usually pretty mild, hovering anywhere from the 50s to the 70s.
Summers are humid and hot, with temperatures in the 80s and 90s common. In the southmost Midwest states, like Kansas and Missouri, temperature hit triple cyphers at least a few periods each summer.
Precipitation Odds
Rain is very common in the Midwest and often falls a few days every week in each part of the region. The city of Chicago usually gets around four inches of precipitation every month as spring turns into summer.
As for snow, it is standard throughout the region in winter with the northernmost states getting the worst of it. Minnesota has an average of 36 inches of snow yearly, while an average of 70 inches of snow falls in the northeastern part of the national that borders Lake Superior.
Severe Weather Events
Perhaps the type of weather to be most aware of in the Midwest is tornadoes. Tornado Alley is an area of land where tornadoes are a frequent occurrence. Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota, and Ohio often fall into this category.
In general, tornado season usually begins in March and lasts until June. Iowa gets almost 50 tornadoes every year. Most occur in the late spring and early summer of May and into June. This is definitely something to watch out for if you live in this area.
Droughts can be common in spring and summer, impacting area farms. However, recently the area has trended towards wetter weather. With this comes flood-like conditions, specifically in low-lying areas.
As for snow, the season typically begins in October along the northern tier of states, from northern Michigan to the western Dakotas. In November, much of the Ohio Valley, the rest of the Great Lakes, Corn Belt and western Kansas start to see their winter take shape.
